Edisen Fishery facts for kids
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Edisen Fishery
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rock Harbor, Isle Royale National Park, Michigan |
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| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000152 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 08, 1977 |
The Edisen Fishery is a historic fishing site found in Rock Harbor. This area is part of the beautiful Isle Royale National Park in Michigan. It's a collection of old buildings that show how people used to fish for a living. This special place was recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1976. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, which means it's an important part of American history.
Contents
What is the Edisen Fishery?
The Edisen Fishery is a group of seven buildings that were once a busy place for commercial fishing. Commercial fishing means catching fish to sell them. The buildings include a fish house and a net house. There are also cabins where people lived, a chicken coop, a whaleboat, and docks. All the buildings are made from logs. They are covered with a special type of wood siding called tongue-and-groove.
The Buildings of the Fishery
The Fish House
The fish house is a one-story building with a pointed roof. It was built around 1900. Half of it is made from horizontal logs. The other half is made from wood frames with vertical boards. This is where the fishermen would prepare their catch.
The Main House
The main house was also built around 1900. It's a small, one-story building. It's made of logs and a type of wood siding called shiplap. It has a pointed roof and sits on a log foundation. This house has three rooms and two doors. The windows are placed in different spots. Inside, the floors are made of wooden tongue-in-groove boards.
The Net House
The net house is the oldest building, built in 1895. It's a single-story building. One half is made of horizontal logs. The other half is a frame structure with a sloped roof. The outside is covered with a material called tarpaper. It has a simple wooden door. This building was used to store and repair fishing nets.
The "Honeymoon" Cabin
This small sleeping cabin was built in 1925 by Peter Edisen. It's a one-room building with a pointed roof. It sits on a log foundation. It has a simple two-paneled door and a small window. It was likely a cozy spot for visitors or family members.
Another Sleeping Cabin
Another sleeping cabin dates back to 1895. It's a one-story log cabin. The spaces between the logs were filled with moss and cloth to keep out the cold. It has a pointed roof covered with asphalt. A wooden door is on one side.
The Chicken Coop
The chicken coop was built in 1934. It's a building made of horizontal boards. It has a gently sloped roof and a log foundation. It has a wooden door and several windows. This is where the chickens lived, providing eggs for the fishermen.
The Privy
The privy is a small building that was built later. It has horizontal wooden walls and a sloped roof covered with asphalt shingles. It has a wooden door. This building served as an outdoor toilet.
History of the Edisen Fishery
In the 1880s, fishing was a very big business around Isle Royale. It was easy to ship fish using refrigerated train cars. Most of the fishermen were from Scandinavia. They would fish at Isle Royale from April to November. Then, they would go back to their homes on the mainland for the winter.
Early Fishermen and Owners
Two fishermen, Mr. Mattson and Mr. Anderson, started this fishery. They built a log cabin and the net house in 1895. Later, in 1900, they added the main house and the fish house. They used materials found nearby to build everything. The buildings were made to be useful and strong. In 1905, a man named Mike Johnson bought the fishery.
The Edisen Family Era
In 1916, Peter and Laura Edisen started fishing here. Laura was Mike Johnson's daughter. The fishery is actually named after Pete Edisen. He was one of the last people to fish for a living on Isle Royale.
The Johnsons and Edisens added more buildings over time. They built the "Honeymoon" sleeping cabin in 1925. The chicken coop was added in 1934. The Edisens lived in the net house until 1951. After that, they moved into the main house. The net house then went back to being used for nets. As of 2009, the Edisen Fishery was still open for people to visit. It helps us remember the important history of fishing on Isle Royale.
Images for kids
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The Edisen Fishery in Isle Royale National Park.
